Another school year has started. I'm still deciding what this school year should be labeled. I've been here for four years, so it's my senior year. However, I have two years till I graduate, therefore I'm a junior. So...I think I'll just continue calling it my second junior year.
My schedule is as full as always. I'm working part time for the physics department. I have 16.5 credits. And I'm going to attempt to have a social life.... that might stop once midterms start. Despite this, I'm really looking forward to this semester. I just have a feeling that it's going to be a great semester. Why? No clue, but it's the truth. Of course, to make a semester great requires a lot of action on my part. Mostly in regards to attitude. This is one reason I'm attempting a social life, having fun and avoiding homework improves one's attitude.
Isn't it interesting, the boundaries we create in our own lives. We label seasons, semesters, ages, and other time periods as if they have any sort of influence on who we are. Now, obviously, certain things start (like school) which change our lives. However, we don't need to wait till these boundaries occur to make the changes in our life that we want to make. We pretend that everything is split into time periods and we can't alter who we are until a new time starts. I can change though, I can change now! Even though a new semester started a week ago, I don't need to wait till it ends to change who I was when it started. A new semester has already begun and it's going to be good.
Friday, September 6, 2013
Monday, August 26, 2013
The New Testament
About 2 weeks ago, I finished reading the New Testament as part of my goal mentioned a couple months ago. I've been lazy and unfocused and so I'm just now getting around to blogging my success. When I finished the Old Testament, I shared a few verses which really touched me, and I wanted to do the same with the New Testament. So- better late than never:
Matthew 2:2 "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."
For those of you who know me personally, you're aware that I'm partial to stars. The birth of a God was marked with the sign of a star. And there were people, great wise men, who saw the sign and sought the king. We often discuss the shepherds who were visited by angels and told of the birth of Christ. From them we learn that Christ came to lift up the lowly, a king came to rescue the shepherd. The wise men teach that even the most knowledgeable of the time can still believe in Christ. In today's world, especially working as a scientist, I'm often questioned about how I can believe in God. Some scientists claim that science "proves" that God does not exist. As one who came after him, I can believe, just as the ones who came before believed and watched for the signs and came. The shepherds were beckoned by angels, the wise men saw a star, even a great king was afraid of the power of a babe. If they can believe, so can I.
Matthew 9:29 "Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you."
Christ accomplished many miracles during his earthly ministry. Some of the most interesting to me have always been the blind receiving their sight (I think this is because going blind has always been one of my greatest fears). I love how often Christ reiterates the idea, "according to your faith be it unto you." Miracles come through our faith. They are a result of it. They were not intended to be proof so that we can believe, but after we believe, we can see miracles which can strengthen our faith in the Lord.
Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing shall be impossible."
This statement really means a lot to me right now. Mostly because college comes so close to feeling absolutely impossible. But there is the promise, clear as day, impossible to misinterpret. As I learn to trust in him, nothing shall be impossible. I may be weak by myself, but he is infinitely powerful, and infinity plus 1 can do anything.
Matthew 2:2 "Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."
For those of you who know me personally, you're aware that I'm partial to stars. The birth of a God was marked with the sign of a star. And there were people, great wise men, who saw the sign and sought the king. We often discuss the shepherds who were visited by angels and told of the birth of Christ. From them we learn that Christ came to lift up the lowly, a king came to rescue the shepherd. The wise men teach that even the most knowledgeable of the time can still believe in Christ. In today's world, especially working as a scientist, I'm often questioned about how I can believe in God. Some scientists claim that science "proves" that God does not exist. As one who came after him, I can believe, just as the ones who came before believed and watched for the signs and came. The shepherds were beckoned by angels, the wise men saw a star, even a great king was afraid of the power of a babe. If they can believe, so can I.
Matthew 9:29 "Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you."
Christ accomplished many miracles during his earthly ministry. Some of the most interesting to me have always been the blind receiving their sight (I think this is because going blind has always been one of my greatest fears). I love how often Christ reiterates the idea, "according to your faith be it unto you." Miracles come through our faith. They are a result of it. They were not intended to be proof so that we can believe, but after we believe, we can see miracles which can strengthen our faith in the Lord.
Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing shall be impossible."
This statement really means a lot to me right now. Mostly because college comes so close to feeling absolutely impossible. But there is the promise, clear as day, impossible to misinterpret. As I learn to trust in him, nothing shall be impossible. I may be weak by myself, but he is infinitely powerful, and infinity plus 1 can do anything.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Wonderful
Sometimes, life is so perfect, there is no time to write about it, which is really a shame because it limits the opportunity to share something wonderful with others.
So- a quick synopsis of all I've done since I last wrote. I finished my summer research internship. I had to write a super long project report and give a really intimidating presentation to a bunch of scientists who know far more about solar physics than I do. However, my adviser said it was amazing and a bunch of other people told me that I did a good job. Success!
After finishing work with the National Observatory, I briefly returned to school to attend the wedding of one of my best friends. Weddings in the LDS church are a little different from the traditional wedding. I believe that God has called a living prophet and given him the authority to lead the church. The prophet has the ability to appoint individuals as sealers. These are people who have been given the authority described in Mathew 16:19, "whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven." This means weddings do not end with the typical mantra "till death do you part", the ceremony is instead concluded with the statement "sealed as man and wife for time and all eternity." Having the opportunity to hear these words again reminded me of Heavenly Father's plan for us. He doesn't just want us to be happy and married here on earth, He has provided us with the opportunity to be a family for all eternity. We can be happy for all eternity.
I returned home after the wedding and purchased my first car. I now have a car, and it's a beautiful car; I feel so empowered. My time was also spent weeding the backyard and shopping with my mom and younger brother as he prepared to start his first year of college. My baby brother is going to be up at school with me. It's the first time we've attended the same school at the same time since I was in 5th grade.
I'm now back at school getting caught up with friends and enjoying the time to relax before another school year starts. The weather is calm and a little rainy. The air is filled with the anticipation of something new about to begin. It's going to be a great school year!
So- a quick synopsis of all I've done since I last wrote. I finished my summer research internship. I had to write a super long project report and give a really intimidating presentation to a bunch of scientists who know far more about solar physics than I do. However, my adviser said it was amazing and a bunch of other people told me that I did a good job. Success!
After finishing work with the National Observatory, I briefly returned to school to attend the wedding of one of my best friends. Weddings in the LDS church are a little different from the traditional wedding. I believe that God has called a living prophet and given him the authority to lead the church. The prophet has the ability to appoint individuals as sealers. These are people who have been given the authority described in Mathew 16:19, "whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven." This means weddings do not end with the typical mantra "till death do you part", the ceremony is instead concluded with the statement "sealed as man and wife for time and all eternity." Having the opportunity to hear these words again reminded me of Heavenly Father's plan for us. He doesn't just want us to be happy and married here on earth, He has provided us with the opportunity to be a family for all eternity. We can be happy for all eternity.
I returned home after the wedding and purchased my first car. I now have a car, and it's a beautiful car; I feel so empowered. My time was also spent weeding the backyard and shopping with my mom and younger brother as he prepared to start his first year of college. My baby brother is going to be up at school with me. It's the first time we've attended the same school at the same time since I was in 5th grade.
I'm now back at school getting caught up with friends and enjoying the time to relax before another school year starts. The weather is calm and a little rainy. The air is filled with the anticipation of something new about to begin. It's going to be a great school year!
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Charity
1 Corinthians 13:8-10
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
The entirety of 1 Corinthians 13 is centered on Charity. From this chapter we learn that Charity is the love of Christ, without it we are nothing, and it is the greatest of the three traits often listed in the scriptures- faith, hope, and charity. From the verses quoted above, I have come to understand a little more the permanence of charity.
The Bible and Book of Mormon are both filled with prophecies of the time when all shall be made perfect. All human beings will be resurrected, brought back to life with a perfect and immortal body. Pain and sickness shall be done away. This will be a time of great change, as every individual will need to be perfected. Human knowledge will change, we shall see the faults in our discoveries and theories and have the opportunity to perfect our knowledge.
The prophesies of ancient prophets, which we learn through scripture, and modern prophets, which we can learn by listening to them and reading their words, will change. This one surprised me a little, since prophecy comes from God, so I figured it was perfect. The words that we receive are perfect, however; they are merely a part of all that God desires to give us. In our imperfect and still child-like state, we are not able to learn all, so the prophecies we receive are part of the whole truth. The prophecies will change because they will become complete. In other words, like human or physical knowledge, or spiritual knowledge will become perfected.
Charity is the only perfect thing that we, as imperfect beings, are able to access. As the pure love of Christ, charity cannot be imperfect. Christ loves each of us perfectly and completely. This is why He suffered and died, so that each of us might overcome our sins and imperfections. As we exercise charity, as we strive to love all, despite their imperfections, as Christ loves us despite ours, and as we avoid judging those who sin and instead seek to help them overcome sin, we grow a little more into the perfect beings we someday shall be. We cannot do it without Christ. Our love isn't yet perfect enough to overcome judgement and fear. For this reason, Christ gives us His love, He gives us Charity. It is already perfect, it will not change, but it will change us if we give it the chance.
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
The entirety of 1 Corinthians 13 is centered on Charity. From this chapter we learn that Charity is the love of Christ, without it we are nothing, and it is the greatest of the three traits often listed in the scriptures- faith, hope, and charity. From the verses quoted above, I have come to understand a little more the permanence of charity.
The Bible and Book of Mormon are both filled with prophecies of the time when all shall be made perfect. All human beings will be resurrected, brought back to life with a perfect and immortal body. Pain and sickness shall be done away. This will be a time of great change, as every individual will need to be perfected. Human knowledge will change, we shall see the faults in our discoveries and theories and have the opportunity to perfect our knowledge.
The prophesies of ancient prophets, which we learn through scripture, and modern prophets, which we can learn by listening to them and reading their words, will change. This one surprised me a little, since prophecy comes from God, so I figured it was perfect. The words that we receive are perfect, however; they are merely a part of all that God desires to give us. In our imperfect and still child-like state, we are not able to learn all, so the prophecies we receive are part of the whole truth. The prophecies will change because they will become complete. In other words, like human or physical knowledge, or spiritual knowledge will become perfected.
Charity is the only perfect thing that we, as imperfect beings, are able to access. As the pure love of Christ, charity cannot be imperfect. Christ loves each of us perfectly and completely. This is why He suffered and died, so that each of us might overcome our sins and imperfections. As we exercise charity, as we strive to love all, despite their imperfections, as Christ loves us despite ours, and as we avoid judging those who sin and instead seek to help them overcome sin, we grow a little more into the perfect beings we someday shall be. We cannot do it without Christ. Our love isn't yet perfect enough to overcome judgement and fear. For this reason, Christ gives us His love, He gives us Charity. It is already perfect, it will not change, but it will change us if we give it the chance.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Pleased to report- Success!
I am quite proud of myself. I successfully made it from Tuesday to Tuesday without playing Candy Crush at all. I think I got lucky. My parents came to visit, I spent a lot of time cleaning to prepare for that, and it wasn't too hard to keep myself busy. Along with my parents visiting, they bought me ice cream. Receiving my reward early made me feel much more obligated to keep to my promise.
Now, my parents bought me two different flavors of ice cream (mint chocolate chip because it's amazing and vanilla to eat with yummy peach cobbler). I feel that since I got double the reward I was intending, I ought to do double the work. I let myself have today to check the many "candy crush requests" and to run out of lives several times. Starting tomorrow, I will pay my second week for which I already have my reward. Thursday to Thursday- it shouldn't be too difficult. I'm going to Carlsbad Caverns tomorrow, on a hike on Saturday, and to Tuscan from Monday to Thursday. I can do this!
Now, my parents bought me two different flavors of ice cream (mint chocolate chip because it's amazing and vanilla to eat with yummy peach cobbler). I feel that since I got double the reward I was intending, I ought to do double the work. I let myself have today to check the many "candy crush requests" and to run out of lives several times. Starting tomorrow, I will pay my second week for which I already have my reward. Thursday to Thursday- it shouldn't be too difficult. I'm going to Carlsbad Caverns tomorrow, on a hike on Saturday, and to Tuscan from Monday to Thursday. I can do this!
Monday, July 22, 2013
Something to do
The challenge I made myself has finally become rather challenging. Throughout the weekend, my parents were visiting and we were either out and about and busy or at home talking to each other. If I ever felt the desire to play Candy Crush, I would just close my laptop and talk more with my parents.
They left yesterday, and as fate would have it, I'm not feeling well today. I came home from work early and spent the entire afternoon switching between reading, watching netflix, and trying to take a nap. Around 3:30, I hadn't yet managed to actually take a nap and I was too tired to keep reading. Checking my 13 Candy Crush requests was starting to look pretty tempting. I thought of all my back up plans: play guitar- I gave it to my parents to take home since I only have 3 weeks left that should be busy and I don't want to have to deal with it on the plane; Blog- not feeling up to writing; work on a book- again, not feeling up to writing (not even feeling up to reading).
Options exhausted, I did the only thing I could do. I closed my laptop, rolled over in bed, and tried again to fall asleep. It finally worked...for about an hour longer than I intended. I'm going to have trouble falling asleep tonight. However, it's 5:30 and, despite already having been home for 6 hours, I still have not played Candy Crush. I just have about 6 more to go... I need to find something to do. More netflix maybe?
They left yesterday, and as fate would have it, I'm not feeling well today. I came home from work early and spent the entire afternoon switching between reading, watching netflix, and trying to take a nap. Around 3:30, I hadn't yet managed to actually take a nap and I was too tired to keep reading. Checking my 13 Candy Crush requests was starting to look pretty tempting. I thought of all my back up plans: play guitar- I gave it to my parents to take home since I only have 3 weeks left that should be busy and I don't want to have to deal with it on the plane; Blog- not feeling up to writing; work on a book- again, not feeling up to writing (not even feeling up to reading).
Options exhausted, I did the only thing I could do. I closed my laptop, rolled over in bed, and tried again to fall asleep. It finally worked...for about an hour longer than I intended. I'm going to have trouble falling asleep tonight. However, it's 5:30 and, despite already having been home for 6 hours, I still have not played Candy Crush. I just have about 6 more to go... I need to find something to do. More netflix maybe?
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Today will be easy
Fortunately for me, it is the third Wednesday of the month. This means that community game night is tonight. It starts at 6:30 and ends whenever I'm tired enough to go home and go to sleep. I only have to keep myself occupied until 6:30.
Even more fortunately, I have family coming to visit this weekend. Family is a pretty good excuse to get myself to clean the house up a little bit. An hour and a half of cleaning, then game night. I have no need to play Candy Crush.
Even more fortunately, I have family coming to visit this weekend. Family is a pretty good excuse to get myself to clean the house up a little bit. An hour and a half of cleaning, then game night. I have no need to play Candy Crush.
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